HC Deb 21 October 1988 vol 138 cc1034-5W
Mr. Batiste

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further proposals he has for encouraging the setting up of new housing associations in rural areas.

Mr. Trippier

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in July that the Rural Development Commission planned almost to treble its funding for the national agricultural centre rural trust in 1988-–89, and that the Housing Corporation would provide for a steady expansion in its programme of housing association schemes in rural areas. It is, however, too early to give any further details of these bodies' funding proposals for the coming years.